With a handlebar-mounted Blackberry connected by bluetooth to her earpiece, she took a call from the Roads Minister, Michael Daley, as she wound her way into town. Heavy breathing on the hillier sections was not a problem with the phone, she said.

In traffic, faced with the challenge of cutting across three lanes of traffic, the advantages of being Premier become instantly clear.

On a bike riding behind her was ”Paul”, the beefy NSW policeman who provides protection. A specialist in don’t-argue hand signals and stay-where- you-are stares, he can stop any car from getting too close, ensuring the Premier gets to work looking as relaxed as she did at the start of the ride.